Incomings

Exchange students welcome

Each year around 100 exchange students come from our partner universities to spend their term abroad at HHL. The students represent more than 30 countries and make HHL a place where different cultures come together and thrive on extensive interaction with each other. They are a valuable part of our community, who not only contribute to the high international composition of our classes but also bring valuable insights into their cultures, adding to the knowledge set students take upon leaving HHL. We hope to have you as part of our exchange program and look forward to welcoming you in Leipzig.

Students from selected partner universities also have the possibility to participate in an additional degree program between their home university and HHL, for either the M.Sc. or the MBA degree. If you are interested in this option, you will need to fulfill HHL´s regular admission requirements for the respective degree. To learn more about the program, please see the section “Additional Degree”.

Course restrictions
MBA students coming for an exchange term may take courses from the MBA program and from the M.Sc. program. Courses in the MBA program may be restricted to exchange students coming from a MBA program at their home institution. HHL reserves the right to decide individually according to specific requirements such as pre-knowledge and work experience, whether students from other programs are eligible for MBA courses as well. Students coming from consecutive programs (usually a 4- or 5-year European program leading to an equivalent of a Master’s degree) are welcome in the M.Sc. program.

Exams
Once registered for a course you must attend the exam. The only reason for taking an exam at a later date is a certified illness verified by a sworn medical officer (Amtsarzt).
For regular treatments (not during exams) please see the list of doctors in Leipzig (scroll down and choose your language).

German System

ECTS System

Explanation

=1,0

A (best 10%)

outstanding

≤ 1,6

B (next 25%)

very good

≤ 2,0

C (next 30%)

good

≤ 3,0

D (next 25%)

satisfactory

≤ 4,0

E (next 10%)

pass

> 4,0

Fx

fail (second exam allowed)

> 4,0

F

fail (second exam not allowed)

P

Grades not awarded

Academic Calendar 2018/2019

Important Note: For exchange students not coming from the European Union or the United States, we recommend an application no later than 3 months before the beginning of the preparatory course (processing time for issuing a student visa at the embassy).

Fall term 2018

April 1, 2018 Application deadline for non-US and non-EU exchange students

June 1, 2018 Application deadline for US and EU exchange students

September 3 – December 23, 2018 Term incl. exams and orientation

Winter term 2019

September 1, 2018 Application deadline for non-US and non-EU exchange students

October 1, 2018 Application deadline for US and EU exchange students

January 7 – March 17, 2019 Term incl. exams and orientation

Spring term 2019

November 1, 2018 Application deadline for non-US and non-EU exchange students

December 1, 2018 Application deadline for US and EU exchange students

March 11 – June 30, 2019 Term incl. exams and orientation

Summer term 2019

February 24, 2019 Application deadline for non-US and non-EU exchange students

March 24, 2019 Application deadline for US and EU exchange students

July 1 – September 8, 2019 Term incl. exams and orientation

Spring and fall terms include a one week preparation session for incoming exchange students.

Academic Calendar 2019/2020

Important Note: For exchange students not coming from the European Union or the United States, we recommend an application no later than 3 months before the beginning of the preparatory course (processing time for issuing a student visa at the embassy).

Fall term 2019

April 1, 2019 Application deadline for non-US and non-EU exchange students

June 1, 2019 Application deadline for US and EU exchange students

September 2 – December 22, 2019 Term incl. exams and orientation

Spring and fall terms include a one week preparation session for incoming exchange students.

Enjoy Leipzig with fellow students from all over the world

Formalities Before Arrival

Here you can find useful information about what to do before your arrival in Germany. Click on the blue bars to learn more about visa requirements, health insurance, opening a bank account and housing options for your studies at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management.

Please be aware that processing time for a student visa might take up to three months. Application deadlines for our programs are fixed to allow students enough time for their visa process and on time arrival. Please note, HHL is unable to speed up the processing time for the visa.

Important: Do NOT apply for a tourist visa. We are not allowed to accept it and it cannot be changed into a residence permit. We are unable to accept latecomers!

Non-EU citizens

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa, but need to apply for the residence permit at the foreigners’ office after arrival. Furthermore, they need to go to the city registration office after arrival: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Korea (South), New Zealand, USA
Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa, but are not allowed to work during or after the program at HHL without a visa, so visa application is highly recommended. They will need to apply for the residence permit at the foreigners’ office after arrival. Furthermore, they need to go to the city registration office after arrival:
Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco, San Marino

Required documents

You will need to provide the following documents to the embassy:

Application form for a national (type D) visa for study purposes (3 copies)

Financial proof of a minimum of EUR 735 per month. This is for living costs during your stay in Germany. In case you have a document about an official scholarship for your studies at HHL (governmental scholarships only, e.g. DAAD) you can use this as proof of your living costs.

Travel health insurance with coverage of a minimum of EUR 30,000. This insurance should be effective from the start of the program at HHL.

Health insurance

For Students aged below 30

When enrolling, students are required to present proof of coverage by a German health insurance provider. Insurance coverage from outside Germany may fulfill requirements; a decision about this is under responsibility of a German public insurance company after your arrival. They will verify the validity of the foreign policy. If your foreign insurance plan does not meet German requirements, enrollment in a German health insurance plan will become inevitable. Please contact any statutory health insurance company for information on student health insurance. HHL does not accept declarations coming from private insurance companies.

At present, the monthly insurance contribution amounts to EUR 66.33 plus individual surcharges, depending on the insurance company. An additional payment of EUR 18,17 (students without own children) is due for the statutory nursing care insurance. You may contact a statutory health insurance company of your choice.

For EU-Students aged below 30

Students who are from countries with which the Federal Republic of Germany has a social insurance agreement (the EU member states, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Switzerland, Tunisia and Turkey), and who are insured in their home country, should submit their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

This card must be obtained in the home country of the student. In this case, the student is entitled to health care coverage in Germany. A further insurance policy from a health care company in Germany is not necessary. If the student is not an EHIC cardholder, the mandatory system mentioned above will apply.

For Students aged 30+

Students 30 and older cannot be insured within a statutory health insurance scheme. They should get private insurance, which might be considerably more expensive.
One suggestion is MARTENS & PRAHL GmbH, Sebastian-Bach-Str. 44, 04109 Leipzig.

Opening a Bank Account

German Consulates are allowed to request to open a blocked account in Germany for proof of your living costs. In this case, you should open an account, e.g. Deutsche Bank Hamburg. Use the form given on their website and sign it in presence of the visa officer.

With your signature, your account is blocked in favor of the Federal Republic of Germany, and you may withdraw EUR 735 per month from it. In all other cases, we suggest opening a German bank account after your arrival in Leipzig.

City registration

After finding accommodation, you have to register within the first two weeks of your stay at one of the offices of the City Hall. Their offices are located in all parts of the city. All students have to present the following form together with a confirmation of the landlord for their apartment and their passport (or for EU citizens alternatively: Identity Card). Once you have registered at the City Hall, you are entitled to receive the Moving Bonus. Further information about living costs and the Moving Bonus can be foundhere.

German Bank Account

It is highly recommended to open a bank account in Germany for the duration of your stay. You may open a bank account at a bank of your choice. Some institutes offer special conditions for students. The Foreigner’s Office might ask you to open a blocked account for your stay in Germany (EUR 735 per month). In this case you must open an account.

Residence Permit

All foreigners, except citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have to go to this office within 90 days of arriving in Germany. The office is located in Prager Str. 128, building B.1. From HHL you can take tram 15 to the stop “Technisches Rathaus”.

Student Union Fee

Each student has to pay a fee to the local student union. This fee has to be paid to HHL and HHL is obliged to transfer the money to the student union. The fee is Euro 201,50 and includes the free usage of Leipzig’s public transport system also in the surrounding areas of Leipzig, the usage of the cafeterias around the campus and the student dorms.

A waiver of the mandatory fee is possible only in cases where the student is absent from Leipzig for a period of at least six months. The student union will decide based on the written application (in German) of the individual student.

Working

EU citizens

Students from countries which are part of the EEA countries have the right to work in Germany.

Non-EU citizens

With some exceptions, non-EU-citizens must apply for a work permit (exceptions see below). Permission will be granted in case the central employment office certifies after a priority review that no nationals from EEA countries are available for the same job.

Exceptions

A) Access to the labor market as a student:
In case your residence permit shows that you are “allowed to work 120 days full-time or 240 days part-time” you may work during 120 days with a minimum of 4 hours/day (=full-time) or 240 days with a maximum of 4 hours/day (=part-time) without any restrictions during a period of 360 days.
Salaries for the exceptions described in A) are not limited.

B) Highly qualified employees (for graduates):
A definition of “highly qualified” is given by the German Foreigners Act. It is defined by the annual salary. In case you receive more than EUR 48,400 per year (for 2015), there will not be a priority review.

Internships for Exchange students

In case of a nomination of your home university you may stay for an internship in Germany, provided you have passed a prior first semester as an exchange student at HHL. Your nomination must show that an internship is a required part of your study program. German knowledge is an important asset for an internship in Germany.

Travelling

Travelling (short stay – tourist)

Non-EU students need a visa to enter Germany, see information about Visa Issues. In most cases this is a national (type D) visa, valid for Germany and the Schengen states. This visa is the basis to apply for a residence permit. For this permit you must apply before the visa expires (usually within the first 90 days of your stay).

With the residence permit (or with a D visa) you are allowed to travel within the Schengen states.

Second Degree

The option for a second degree requires a separate agreement between HHL and the partner university.

Regulations

Incoming students seeking a second degree usually take the regular study program at their home university and earn 60 ECTS credits at HHL. The master thesis must be written at the home university. The final transcripts will be handed out to the student by the home university after completing both programs.

For courses please refer to the Courses section above. Please make sure to only choose courses from the program you are intending to achieve an additional degree.

Please note: It is not possible to earn credits for

Master thesis

Internships

Study abroad

Language courses

Application

You have read all provided information and are now ready to start your application process?
Learn more about how to apply and what you need to provide for your studies at HHL.

Application deadlines

For EU/US citizens: 3 months prior the requested start of the exchange period

For non-EU citizens: 4 months prior the requested start of the exchange period

Academic requirements

Average ECTS credits/term: 20 credits

Minimum ECTS credits/term: 15 credits

Maximum ECTS credits/term: 30 credits

Fluency in English is mandatory

German at survival level recommended (not required)

Application as exchange student

For all Non-EU / Non-US applicants: Please consider that issuing a student visa will take around three months. Your admission letter will be sent out to your home university after you successfully submitted the complete online application.

As exchange student you need:

1. Nomination of home university (e-mail to international@hhl.de)
2. Online application – the following documents need to be uploaded: